Albany County Executive Breslin won’t seek fifth term

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin, a Democrat, announced he will not seek a fifth term.

His term expires on Dec. 31.

“Serving as Albany County Executive has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Breslin.

He said he’d “accomplished what I set out to accomplish.”

Breslin, 72, was appointed to serve as Albany County Executive in January of 1995 at the age of 55. He was elected to his first full term in November 1995.

Breslin cited as his most important accomplishments the creation of the Department for Children, Youth and Families, the first like it in the state, and expanded support for seniors and individuals with disabilities wanting to remain in their communities.

He said in an interview with The Business Review that he was also pleased with reducing the size of government from 2,900 workers to 2,500 workers.

"We dramatically changed the face of government," he said.

Breslin said he did not know what his next job would be but said emphatically, "I do not plan to retire."

"I never considered myself a permanent, professional politician,," he said. "It's time to move on. A lot of people have encouraged me to run. We accomplished so many things and it's time to move on."

“I have worked with Mike on countless issues, from bringing jobs to the NanoCollege and the Watervliet Arsenal, to trying to assist counties with their budgets, to the effort to gain recognition for Sgt. Henry Johnson, and literally hundreds of issues in between,” Schumer said.